Chapter 15 on Media Ethics includes several discussions about photographs and the ethics of publishing disturbing photos in the process of covering the news. One such photo appears on page 376. Another controversial photo was published in relation to the Sept. 11 attacks on the Twin Towers. It was labeled “The Falling Man.” Have you ever seen this photo? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Falling_Man (Links to an external site.)
What is the controversy associated with Drew’s “falling man” photograph? If you were the editor of the newspaper, would you have run the photograph?
One way to look at the dilemma is to use Sissela Bok’s three-step model for analyzing the ethics about publishing this photo, as discussed on age 379.
The Falling Man | Behind The Photo | 100 Photos | TIME (Links to an external site.)
This 4-minute video is an interview with Drew, and what he thinks about the photo. How does Drew explain his actions of taking the photograph?
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a48031/the-falling-man-tom-junod/ (Links to an external site.)
This is the article in Esquire magazine that is mentioned in the video. You may not be able to access the article unless you subscribe, but if you want to read it, it is available.
The author is the one who called it, “The Falling Man.” Junod went to great lengths to try to figure out who it was, but he never was able to confirm the identity. Do you think it’s important to know the person’s identity?
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a37516003/the-falling-man-esquire-tom-junod-making-of-interview/ (Links to an external site.)
This link explains how the story came together. Very interesting process article.
Does knowing the person’s identity make a difference to you in whether or not you use this photo in the newspaper, or in the online version? Are there different standards for publication in print versus publication online?